The latest buzz in the industry has been all about the launching of the Celebrity Edge – even though it’s inaugural voyage is more than a year away (December 2018). The Edge marks a new class of ship for Celebrity, with 3 additional sister-ships on order due in the next several years.
You can discover more about the Edge here: http://www.celebritycruises.com/edge/
The initial sailings are available for booking now, and I already have one client confirmed on the inaugural sailing.
The innovation on the Edge that’s getting all the press is the Magic Carpet. This is a tennis-court sized platform attached to the side of the ship, which can be raised or lowered between the water level and the top deck. In the ‘down’ position it can be used to load tender boats, and in the ‘up’ position it becomes a lounge and observation deck.
This seems to “one-up” the Sea Walk, which extends off the Sun Deck (17 stories above the water) on Princess’ Royal Class vessels.
Royal Caribbean seems to still be in the lead for shipboard amenities, with ice rinks, bumper cars, climbing walls, and a million other things on their vessels.
So… I’m curious. What’s YOUR opinion about these innovative features? The Magic Carpet on the Edge looks really cool, but is it important enough to you that it would it draw you to Celebrity, or to that ship?
For those cruise lines that build bigger, and more innovative ships, what are they missing? What SHOULD be available on these big ships that’s not already?
Conversely, have the mass market cruise lines gone too far already? As the American population ages, will we become less interested in waterslides and zip-lines? Will we graduate to the luxury lines, and willingly give up innovative on-board features and amenities in favour of more interesting ports of call, fewer passengers, and superior quality and service on board the ships?
There are, of course, no correct answers, but I’d love to hear your opinions!
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Sue Bradley
